Current Projects
Research Project: Funding to local Civil Society Organizations in East Africa
Context:
At the forefront of social justice movements in the Global South are countless civil society organizations and activists working to cement and safeguard human rights. These groups and activists face numerous challenges that limit their impact on rights advancement. The issue of funding in particular presents a serious threat to local social justice activism in the global south. According to available funding data, the level and type of funding allocated to social justice groups, particularly in Africa, fails to reflect the unique needs of these important institutions. Much of the funding channeled to these organizations is in the form of short term, non- renewable, and project specific grants with limited thematic focus (Ford Foundation, 2018).
Further compounding these challenges is the percentage of total global funding available to local groups on the continent. Historically, global funding to human rights organizations has gone to subsidiaries of international NGOs (Civicus, 2019). In fact, this trend has remained largely unchanged even when the world has grown and continues to become “increasingly multipolar and dynamic…with new centers of moral legitimacy” (Ford Foundation, 2018). At the same time, there has been growing recognition among donors of the need to channel greater funding to human rights groups in the Global South (Ford Foundation, 2018; OECD, 2020.) Unfortunately, this recognition hasn’t translated into meaningful support as a large percentage of international funding continues to go to International NGOs (Civicus, 2019). In fact, of the USD 142.6 billion spent on official development assistance (ODA) by OECD-DAC countries in 2018, only 15% or USD 19.7 billion went directly to civil society groups in the global south (Civicus, 2019). This figure has remained unchanged even while ODA for 2020 increased by USD 20 billion (OECD, 2020).
At the same time, research shows that human rights organizations in the Global South are better poised to thrive with unrestricted, multiyear general operating support over a relative long period of time as this allows them to be more responsive and strategic in facing new challenges (Ford Foundation, 2018). With more stable funding over a long period of time, human rights groups are able to strategize more effectively and respond to the changing political landscapes (Ford Foundation, 2018). Unfortunately, at the core of this mismatch in funding need and support is general awareness of the type and level of funding needed to ensure long term sustainability of these groups.
Project overview:
To that end, Saro Media plans to implement a survey of funding trends to local civil society organizations in East Africa to better understand the challenges these organizations face, specifically the type of funding available to these groups. As it stands, there is limited data and research on this topic. Through this project, we hope to remediate this issue while also raising awareness about the deleterious impact of limited and non-tailored grant making to local civil society organizations in East Africa.
Goal:
Ultimately the goal of this research project is to inspire not only greater philanthropic support but also tailored or strategic grant making to these organizations that will allow them to have a deeper impact on social justice advancement on the continent while also furthering their long-term operation.
References:
Civicus. (2016). Southern Philanthropy, Social Justice and Human Rights. https://www.civicus.org/index.php/media-resources/reports- publications/1777-paper-southern-philanthropy-social-justice-and-human- rights
Civicus. (2019.). Shifting the Power to Grassroots Movements. Retrieved January 17, 2021, from https://www.civicus.org/index.php/media- resources/reports-publications/3969-shifting-the-power-to-grassroots- movements
Ford Foundation. (2019). Strengthening Human Rights Worldwide: A Learning Review Summary. Ford Foundation. Retrieved January 16, 2021, from https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/learning/program- evaluations/strengthening-human-rights-worldwide-a-learning-review- summary/
Queer Exile Project
Context: In 2023, Uganda passed the Anti-Homosexuality Act, a law that criminalizes same sex sexuality and sexual minority activism in the country. In addition to life imprisonment for same sex conduct, the new law increases prison time for “attempt at same-sex conduct” (Human Rights Watch 2023). Uganda’s new law is informed by similar laws being passed in a number of African countries including Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia (Bhandari 2023). These laws build upon existing penal codes that are widely viewed as legacies of colonialism (BBC News 2018; Koama 2014). More than half of the fifty-four countries in Africa have some laws that criminalize homosexuality. In addition to restricting the human rights of sexual minorities, these laws have a chilling effect on local activism around sexual minority rights. As a consequence of these laws, sexual minorities are forced into exile to escape imprisonment and death in some cases while local activists and civil society organizations are forced to suspend their work.
Project Overview:
In light of the growing wave of repressive laws that seek to oppress same-gender loving individuals and limit activism around social justice, we plan to implement the Queer Exile Project, a story-telling and photo journalism project that centers the lived experiences of sexual asylees to highlight the impact of anti-homosexuality laws on their lives. Through personal narratives and photography, we hope to bring greater attention to these laws while highlighting the important work of activists and local civil society organizations fighting for sexual minority rights in the Global South.
Goals:
We believe that increased awareness of the realities of forced displacement or self-exile as a result of repressive laws will achieve the following:
Spark meaningful dialogue around this important issue while spurring policies and laws that support the unique needs and advance general wellbeing of sexual asylees;
Generate greater philanthropic support for the work of local activists and groups on the frontlines of social change, social inclusion, and generally, social justice while amplifying their efforts and visibility;
Further the long-term sustainability and impact of social justice movements in the Global South;
Promote respect for and adherence to human rights, democracy, and good governance in emerging economies.
References:
American Jewish World Service, “Defending LGBTI: Ensuring equality safety and health for sexual minorities.” Sept 2010. Accessed 01/01/2014
BBC News. “Homosexuality: The Countries Where It Is Illegal to Be Gay.” April 20, 2018, sec. World. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-43822234.
BBC News. “Ugandan MPs pass life in jail anti-homosexual law.” December 20, 2013. Accessed 01/01/2014. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25463942
Bhandari, Aditi. “Uganda’s Anti-Gay Bill Is the Latest and Worst to Target LGBTQ Africans.” Reuters, April 7, 2023. https://www.reuters.com/graphics/UGANDA-LGBT/movakykrjva/.
Halizadeh, “Uganda: Victory for Human Rights.” International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. 23 Dec 2008. Accessed 01/01/2014. http://iglhrc.org/content/uganda-victory-human-rights
Human Rights Watch. “Ugandan Parliament Passes Extreme Anti-LGBT Bill,” March 22, 2023. https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/03/22/ugandan-parliament-passes-extreme-anti-lgbt-bill.
Kaoma, Kapya. “Colonizing African Values: How the US Christian Right is Transforming Sexual Politics in Africa.” Political Research Associates. 2012. Accessed 01/01/2014.
Michael, Sarah. Undermining Development: the absence of power among local NGOs in Africa. Indiana University Press, 2005